SLSD

Here's another update on our pre-pandemic FCD which would have expired in June. (If you read my original post for this thread you will see that I was told on my SB app that it would be forfeited if not used--was told the same by telephone. Then--we sent a letter). Above, I posted an update to say that we received an email stating that SB could extend our FCD for one year. We emailed back, accepting that offer. Today, my husband received a phone call from SB, saying that they had accidentally initiated a refund of our FCD, even though we had asked for an extension. Evidently, our letter was sent to two different offices and opposite actions were taken. I was not on this call. SB offered to resell us the FCD--and Mr. SLSD agreed to this. So NOW, we have another 4 year FCD. We will be checking to make sure our original FCD was indeed refunded. The woman on the phone from SB was very nice and apologetic, but evidently the office is struggling a bit and getting their wires crossed.

We haven't cruised since the pandemic (we will for the first time in June), but in the past, we have attended most lectures and enjoyed them on Seabourn. With a very few exceptions, the lectures have been excellent. I hope some current cruisers will tell us about the current speakers. Hopefully SB is still having them!

I find myself being very envious of couples where the husband delights in trip planning. Our first cruise, many years ago now, was with such a couple. The husband planned every private tour, every restaurant and hotel. It was seamless and wonderful. One can dream.

Or a failure to nail down permission for entrance into a port which can include fees. If it is port charges (which passengers are charged for) it could be an inability or reluctance of SB to pay port charges in a timely manner-- --in other words ahead of time.

We are NOT casino people---far from it. Enough said.

This sounds good to me Markham. Now, if we could only meld the social aspects of Seabourn with the more upscale attributes of Siversea. How hard could it be? You would think a new CEO would see the opportunity and go with it.

We are watching with interest as well. We have never sailed with Crystal, but if things go well for new set up--we may.

I don't either. And this is one reason I don't do buffets. I am far from a germaphobic person, but I have to say that the buffets put me off. I am truly surprised that they continue during the age of Covid. Why not have a menu and let people order.

We had an entire thread about this some months ago. There are those of us who love having lunch in the Restaurant (MDR), but it is not open very often these days for lunch, we've been told. There are posters here who miss that and others who scoff at the idea of a venue being opened as apparently few diners take/took advantage of it. Where to dine? Those of us who do not do buffets have to do the few menu items in the Colonnade or order a burger or something at the Patio Grill. I am not a fan of room service except for breakfast.

Seabourn could discontinue caviar anytime/anywhere and I would not be disappointed. At most, we order it once or twice on a three week cruise. We like it--but often forget about it and don't like it so much that it is very important. We are also not big champagne drinkers. I do enjoy a Kir Royale and prefer champagne served that way unless it is very high quality champagne. As an added note, I think some people feel like they have to squeeze out every last dollar of value on their SB cruise--thus the constant ordering of champagne and caviar. Tell me if you think I am wrong.

I enjoy the behind the scenes part (and have taken several galley tours which are sometimes offered), I just don't enjoy seeing all the disconnected dishes displayed. It just isn't appetizing to me. I may be way out in left field here. I love good food and especially enjoy savory foods, but like curated menus.

Or, as one of our SB friends calls it--"feeding at the trough."

Have a wonderful cruise!

It is SO frustrating, not to mention insulting that emails always go to my husband. I have to hope that he notices them and forwards them on to me. Mr. SLSD is like Basil. He just wants to turn up on the required date. The sad thing is that NEITHER ONE of us enjoy trip planning, but if we are ever going to go anywhere, I have to make it happen. He loves it once we are there.

I'm probably the only person here who does NOT like Galley Lunches!! First, buffets are not my preference ever, and I really dislike seeing that much food. To me, it looks like a clean out of the refrigerators and freezers. We HAVE done the Galley Lunch a couple of times and I feel like such a party pooper with just three small servings of three items on my plate. We have vowed to not do the Galley Lunch again. Am I the ONLY one here who doesn't like them? Surely not.

You will probably have a great cruise, but hopefully. you understand that SB can and may change the itinerary and your dream ports may not be included in a new itinerary. People get very frustrated by changes, but it happens more often than not.

We have experienced the TK Grill on both the larger and smaller ships. While we like the TK Grill Bar on Ovation and Encore and miss it on the smaller ships, I have to say that I really enjoyed the smaller version of the grill itself. Why, you ask? I think one reason is that the larger TK Grill was never more than 1/3 full. While many wanted to dine there, they just were not accepting reservations and the space always felt a bit empty and unwelcoming. The smaller TK Grill, while very compact, was always full and was much more vibrant and fun, in my opinion. Mr. SLSD does prefer the TK Grills on the larger ships and likes that they were only about 1/3 full. So there you go--we don't always like the same things.

I've never seen a notice while onboard that you could order caviar anytime/anywhere. We knew we could order and have it because of what we have read online in forums like this one. It seems to not be well advertised.

Interesting that there was no card sent to your suite. Perhaps it was an oversight. The FCD definitely works for both SB and its passengers. I started this thread because I received what I thought was a strange message on either the app or my account on the SB website saying I had to use the FCD by June or lose it. I think it may have been a combination of poorly written text along with poorly trained staff on the telephone. I was not alarmed as we had in our files the receipt which said what we understood we had signed up for. My update just provided the message we received by email as a response to our written and mailed letter.

BUT, you could use a FCD for an additional cruise. You would have several years to use it. We have used them before. Usually, there was a card placed on our suite door reminding us that it was an option.

I'm willing to bet they will be happy to give you an extension. That's what we have decided to do.

Beets are literally the ONLY food I do not eat. I am shuddering. Quite a burger though. I'm enjoying your commentary.

Yes, I was updating the thread. I had reached a clueless agent on the telephone who said it could not be refunded or extended--so we wrote a letter and received this reply.

SB has the credit card number wrong--so I didn't bother to change those numbers. This is a bit disconcerting as we have a receipt which has the correct credit card number. We still are disappointed that when we called in to SB to ask for the refund, we were not offered the refund, but instead told that we would lose the deposit if we did not book another cruise before June. It is true that our next cruise was purchased through a promotion --which is how I convinced Mr. SLSD who was dragging his heels on cruising again post pandemic that we should go ahead and go.

Just today, we have received an response from Seabourn about our request for a refund of our FCD purchased on our last SB cruise in 2019. You may recall, that i had previously received a message that if we did not use the FCD, we would lose it in June. Here is the response we received today: Thank you for contacting Seabourn Cruise Line regarding the Future Cruise Deposits (ID XXXXXXX) you and Mrs. D. purchased with Seabourn in 2019. We see that your travel advisor was unable to apply your Future Cruise Deposits to your booking #XXXX for the upcoming June 11th, 2023 Ovation; the reason for this is that the promotional rate under which you booked is exceptional and not combinable with FCDs. Before cancelling your FCDs we do want to offer you the option of extending the FCDs out for another year in the event that you might wish to apply them to another cruise (most of our cruises do not have the promotion pricing under which you have booked and therefore would be eligible for application). If you still wish to proceed with cancelling your FCDs, we process this request immediately once we hear back from you. The funds will be returned to the original credit card of purchase, a Mastercard ending in 3084, within 10 business days. We look forward to your continued correspondence on this matter. If you have additional questions or concerns, please include these in your message. Thank you so very much for choosing Seabourn! Best regards, Faith Guest Services Seabourn | Luxury Voyages and Expeditions o | 206.626.8692 w | www.seabourn.com Just to refresh your memory, I had called in to SB to ask for a response and the representative I reached said we could not get a refund, but would lose our $1,000 deposit. We knew this was not what we had signed up for. Just as an aside--I do all of our Seabourn cruise planning and contacts (usually through our own travel agent) --even so, Seabourn ALWAYS sends emails addressed to my husband instead of to me. This letter was no different. Since my husband has nothing to do with our planning, he has to forward everything to me. We have asked in the past for all communications to be sent to me--to no avail.